Punjab Power Crisis Deepens as Coal Supplies and Generation Falter

Punjab is using more electricity because farmers need to water paddy crops and the weather has stayed hot.

Some of Punjab’s power plants have not been able to produce as much electricity as expected.

Coal supplies from a mine in Jharkhand were interrupted by heavy rain and transport problems.

Workers at some state plants also went on strike for about a month.

Two private plants continued producing power for much of the summer, but their coal supplies later became low.

The state has therefore had to restrict electricity for factories, homes and farms.

It also bought more expensive electricity from the market.

Punjab’s government blames temporary coal problems, while the Centre says enough coal has been made available.